Where to find your saved WiFi password on your computer

Your computer stores the WiFi password you entered when you first connected to a network. You can retrieve it without resetting the router or calling your internet provider. The steps differ between Windows and Mac, but both systems keep this information in their network settings.

The password you see will be the one your computer remembers — the actual password you typed in when you joined the network. This is useful when you need to connect a phone, tablet, or another device, or when you've forgotten what you entered.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows stores WiFi passwords in Settings under Network & Internet, where you can view saved networks and reveal the password in plain text.
  • Mac users can find the password in Keychain Access by searching for the network name, then checking the "Show password" box after entering their Mac login password.
  • You must be logged into your computer with administrator rights to view saved passwords on either system.
  • If you cannot remember your computer's login password, you cannot retrieve the WiFi password through these methods.

Retrieving your WiFi password on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Navigate to Network & Internet, then click WiFi on the left side. Scroll down and select Manage known networks.

Find the network name (SSID) you want the password for and click it. Select Forget, then go back and click the same network name again. Windows will ask you to enter the password as if you were connecting for the first time — but instead of entering it, look for the option to Show or reveal the password. If you already know the password and just need to confirm it, skip the forget step and look for Properties or Advanced options instead, where a "Show password" checkbox may appear.

If this method does not show the password field, try the Command Prompt route: press Windows key + R, type cmd, and run this command: netsh wlan show profile name="YourNetworkName" key=clear (replace "YourNetworkName" with your actual network name). The password will appear next to "Key Content" in the results.

Retrieving your WiFi password on Mac

Open Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, type Keychain Access, and press Enter. In the Keychain Access window, make sure you are on the Passwords tab (not Certificates or Keys).

Use the search box in the top right to find your network name. When you locate it, double-click the entry. A small window will open showing the network details. At the bottom, check the box next to Show password. Your Mac will prompt you to enter your computer login password — type it in and click Allow. The WiFi password will now display in plain text in that same window.

If you do not see your network in Keychain Access, it may not be saved on this Mac, or it may be stored under a different name. Try searching for partial words from the network name, or check whether you connected to this network on this computer before.

What to do if the password does not appear

If you follow these steps and no password shows up, the most common reason is that you have never actually connected to that network on this computer. A device only stores passwords for networks it has joined. If someone else set up the network on a different computer, that password will not be saved here.

Another possibility is that the network uses a login page instead of a password — some public WiFi networks (like coffee shops or airports) work this way. In that case, there is no password to retrieve; you straightforward connect and then open a browser to see the login screen.

If you are trying to find the password for your own home network and nothing appears, you will need to reset the router or check the router's label, where the default password is often printed. Contact your internet provider if you cannot locate the router or do not have physical access to it.

Why your computer might not let you view the password

Windows and Mac both require you to be logged in as an administrator to view saved passwords. If you are using a standard user account on a shared computer, you may not have permission to see this information. Ask the computer's administrator to log in and retrieve the password for you.

If you have forgotten your own computer login password, you cannot retrieve the WiFi password through these methods. You would need to reset your computer login password first (through your Microsoft account on Windows, or through Recovery Mode on Mac), or contact your IT department if this is a work computer.

Using the password once you find it

Once you have the password, you can share it with other devices by typing it exactly as it appears — including capital letters, numbers, and special characters. WiFi passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword."

If you want to change the password to something easier to remember, you will need to log into your router's settings page (usually through a web browser) using the router's admin login. This is different from retrieving a saved password and requires access to the router itself, not just your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the WiFi password if I am not connected to the network right now?

Yes. As long as your computer has connected to that network before and saved the password, you can retrieve it from your settings even if you are currently offline or connected to a different network. The password is stored locally on your computer, not on the internet.

Will retrieving the password change or reset it?

No. straightforward viewing the password through Settings or Keychain Access does not change anything. The password remains the same on the router and for all other devices. You are only reading what your computer already knows.

What if I see the password but it does not work on another device?

Double-check that you typed it exactly as shown, including uppercase and lowercase letters. If it still does not work, the password may have been changed on the router since your computer last connected. Try forgetting the network on the other device and reconnecting, or check the router's settings to confirm the current password.

Can I retrieve passwords for networks I have never connected to?

No. Your computer only stores passwords for networks it has actually joined. If you need the password for a network you have never connected to, you will need to ask the network owner or access the router directly.